# Prisma Database Setup Prisma Client Setup

> Prisma Client Setup. Reference when using this Prisma feature.

- Skill: `prisma/prisma-database-setup-prisma-client-setup` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add prisma/prisma-database-setup-prisma-client-setup`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/prisma/prisma-database-setup-prisma-client-setup/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: prisma (https://skillmd.com/u/prisma)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/prisma/prisma-database-setup-prisma-client-setup

---


# Prisma Client Setup

Generate and instantiate Prisma Client for any database provider.

## 1. Install dependencies

```bash
npm install prisma --save-dev
npm install @prisma/client
```

## 2. Add generator block

In `prisma/schema.prisma`:

```prisma
generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}
```

Prisma v7 requires an explicit `output` path and will not generate into `node_modules` by default.

## 3. Generate Prisma Client

```bash
npx prisma generate
```

Re-run `prisma generate` after every schema change to keep the client in sync.

## 4. Instantiate Prisma Client

```typescript
import { PrismaClient } from '../generated/client'
import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'

const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })
```

If you change the generator `output`, update the import path to match. In Prisma ORM 7, a **driver adapter is required** — replace `PrismaPg` with the adapter for your database.

## 5. Use a single instance

Each `PrismaClient` instance creates a connection pool. Reuse a single instance per app process to avoid exhausting database connections.